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NEW YORK — James Cameron has set the release dates for the next four Avatar sequels, with the first coming in 2020.

The movie’s Facebook page Saturday posted a photo of Cameron and his massive film crew, who have been working on all four films simultaneously. The post said Avatar 2 will hit theatres Dec. 18, 2020, and Avatar 3 comes a year later, on Dec. 17, 2021.

The franchise then takes a three-year hiatus before returning with Avatar 4 on Dec. 20, 2024, and Avatar 5 on Dec. 19, 2025. The first sequel had been expected in 2018 but Cameron this year said that timetable wouldn’t be met.

The original 2009 Avatar film has netted over US$2.7 billion, centring on the conflict between humans and the blue-skinned alien race Na’vi of Pandora.